Today, the New South Wales Court of Appeals issued a decision toreduce penalties imposed on the former directors of asbestos manufacturer James Hardie.  Ironically, this judgment was issued on the concluding day of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) TV miniseries, “Devil’s Dust,” inspired by Matt Peacock’sbook “Killer Company.”  

Theglobal outrage and digital conversation began minutes after the news hit the wire.  View the news articles, videos, and tweets that tell thestory of pain, disgust, grief, and outrage. Bernie, we will keep your fight for justicealive. 

~ Linda Reinstein, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)Co-Founder and Mesothelioma Widow 

Karen Banton, wife of the late Bernie Banton who died in 2007 of mesothelioma, expressed her disappointment about the New South Wales Court of Appeal decision to reduce penalties imposed on asbestos maker James Hardie Directors.

James Hardie win disappoints asbestos campaignersworldnewsvevo

ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Devil’s Dust Trailer

Devil’s Dust | 11 & 12 November at 8.30pm, ABC1newonabctv

Timeline – Devils Dust – ABC TV1888 Scottish immigrant James Hardie opens a leather trading office in Melbourne where fellow Scot Andrew Reid soon becomes his business …

May 2012: The High Court holds that seven directors of the James Hardie Industries breached their duties by approving the company’s release of a misleading statement to the stock exchange that the MRCF was “fully funded”. SOURCE:  TIMELINE – OF BERNIE BANTON AND JAMES HARDIE

November 2012: The New South Wales Court of Appeals issued a decision to reduce penalties imposed on asbestos maker James Hardie Directors.

Petition To: Australian Prime Minister, JuliaGillard: “Asbestos Kills! James Hardie Directors Slap onthe Wrist Token Sentence!” by Lou Williams, Mesothelioma Patient 

Asbestos kills! James Hardie directors slap on the wrist token sentence!Asbestos kills! James Hardie directors slap on the wrist token sentence!. People who get diagnosed with an Asbestos Related Disease (ARD)…

James Hardie directors have penalties reduced – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)Updated November 12, 2012 15:55:23 The former James Hardie directors who were disqualified from managing companies for releasing misleadi…

Karen Banton, wife of late Bernie Banton, tells @abc730 she’s disappointed with court ruling on James Hardie directors http://bit.ly/UCP1qvABC News

Devil’s Dust Ep 2 now- same day as Appeal Court cuts Hardie director bans http://bit.ly/TTauyC #devilsdust #asbestos #berniebanton #abcbooksMatt Peacock

Appeal court reduces bans on Hardie directors just as Devils Dust goes to air – @StephenLongABC unpicks the details http://bit.ly/SPoWEOABC Radio

"It was morally wrong & it’s time a ‘sorry’ should be given" Karen Banton says on James Hardie after penalties were reduced… #abc730abc730

AU NEWS: James Hardie directors fined, banned for two years #asbestos http://sco.lt/7D43NZLinda Reinstein

Can money buy justice? @ABCNews (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): James Hardie directors have penalties reduced http://sco.lt/4xPPNpLinda Reinstein

Global #asbestos victims outraged by news of "Penalties on former James Hardie directors reduced." http://sco.lt/6BHo5h #DevilsDust @abcnewsLinda Reinstein

Hardie directors’ bans slashed: SEVEN former James Hardie executives will be free to sit on company b… http://bit.ly/WYdZaS #australiaAustraliaNewsOnline

Having just watched Devil’s Dust I have to say I am gobsmacked by this decision. Gut wrenching television, close to home as a good mate’s old man died from mesothelioma. Frankly I would not urinate on Meredith Hellicar and the other Hardie …directors if they were on fire. They should have been incarcerated for their actions. Asbestos related diseases have killed more Australians than died in World War 1. @Karen Elizabeth Banton and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Linda.Reinstein.ADAO" class="">Linda Reinstein</a> my heart goes out to you both. Keep fighting the good fight, you like Bernie are heroes for the work that you are doing on behalf of asbestos victims. For James Hardie and its directors I feel nothing but contempt and disgust. See More</a>

Superb chronology of how the #asbestos scandal & James Hardie #cover up has unfolded over the years.Worth a look http://www.abc.net.au/tv/devilsdust/timeline/@ABCTVMaurice Blackburn

RIP Bernie – I hope your work exposing @james_hardie eventually brings this corporate parasite to its knees #DevilsDustFreocookster

James Hardie directors have penalties reduced: The former James Hardie directors who were d… http://bit.ly/SeXtvm #money #markets #nzdNew Zealand Business

The day after #DevilsDust airs, the court reduces penalties on #Hardie’s directors. SHAMEThe Beanie Kid

Ct of Appeal reduces penalties for Hardie directors as their moral culpability laid bare in Devil’s Dust http://bit.ly/Q7OOjfJustinian

Devil’s Dust was phenomenal. But phenomenally sad as well. As it will continue to be. A true bastard’s act by James Hardie.Courtney Walsh

James Hardie directors have penalties reduced – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)Updated November 12, 2012 15:55:23 The former James Hardie directors who were disqualified from managing companies for releasing misleadi…

Angry enough to make a James Hardie LOL after watching #DevilsDust http://twitpic.com/bcl08gJackie McMillan

RT @AshGhebranious: The irony of course is the Hardie directors got their sentences reduced today. Just to add salt into the wound #devilsdustAnthony Hayes

James Hardie directors have penalties reduced http://is.gd/Ir6WMH ht @doughtypaul #DevilsDust #nswpol #nswfailRyan Tracey

The irony of course is the Hardie directors got their sentences reduced today. Just to add salt into the wound #devilsdustAshGhebranious

Former James Hardie directors bans cut: THE NSW Court of Appeal has reduced the fines and bans imposed on former… http://bit.ly/ZcYWIznews.com.au

Ironic that the James Hardie directors got let off today in between episode one & two of the Devil’s Dust airing. DISGUSTING. #auspolJackie McMillan

#nswpol #auspol #Hardie directors’ bans reduced http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-12/hardie-directors-bans-reduced/4367674?section=nsw @abcnews Synchronicity with #DevilsDust finishing on TV.Justice is deafNSWOLSCJusticeSucker

“Running Up that Hill” – Tribute to Bernie Banton

Bernie Banton Foundation – HomeBernie and I discussed the establishment of the Bernie Banton Foundation well before his diagnosis of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related c…

Running up that hill – Tribute to Bernie Bantonhopeflies40

Timeline of Bernie Banton and James Hardie